New Pterosaur Species Discovery: Japan

Japan's paleontology has achieved a milestone with the discovery of Nipponopterus mifunensis, a new pterosaur species from the Late Cretaceous period, found in the Mifune Group, Kumamoto Prefecture. This species, part of the Azhdarchidae family, highlights Japan's rich biodiversity 90 million years ago. Pterosaurs, known for their lightweight bones and large wingspans, played a key role as the first flying vertebrates. This discovery, alongside earlier finds in the Yezo Group, underscores the importance of continued fossil research in Japan, providing deeper insights into the evolution of these remarkable flying reptiles.